Shashi Tharoor said the cleanliness campaign has been reduced to mere photo ops on every Gandhi Jayanti. (File Photo)
Former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor today said he was disappointed at not seeing "significant progress" in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"There is no significant progress. We have not seen concrete progress, fund allocation, improvement of fundamental structure and schemes. The Prime Minister deserves credit for having raised the issue but the government is not confined to headlines," Mr Tharoor said.
The Congress leader, who was nominated by PM Modi to spread the message of the cleanliness campaign, said there was failure to allocate funds and a mechanism needs to be put in place for the initiative.
"The government has to ensure that mechanism is in place, funds are allocated, leadership is given to the programme and that sadly has not happened," Mr Tharoor said at a session titled 'Swachh Bharat: The India Story' on the penultimate day of the five day Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur.
Mr Tharoor said the cleanliness campaign has been reduced to mere photo ops with VIPs wielding brooms in front of cameras on every Gandhi Jayanti on October 2.
"PM Modi had announced a
Swachh Bharat Kosh. Where is that
kosh? I have not seen it so far. We need to ensure that the funds provided by the central government also strengthen the local level leaders who want to make a difference," he said. The Congress leader also stressed on "cleanliness of the mind."
"In our country, you cannot talk about Swachh Bharat while condoning hatred, prejudice and things like 'Go to Pakistan' etc." he said.
Taking a dig at PM Modi for his '
na khaunga na khane doonga' remarks, Mr Tharoor said, "We have entrusted the responsibility to curb corruption on someone who has said '
Na Khaunga Na Khane Dunga...woh beef ke bare me bol rahe the' (he was talking about beef)," Mr Tharoor said in response to Punjabi novelist Desraj Kali who he was in conversation with.
He said there is a need to change the mindset of people and the government should create infrastructure facilities for garbage dumping especially near canals to ensure that people do not throw garbage into them.
He also favoured hiking salaries and providing facilities for the dignity of people engaged in scavenging and cleaning.
Mr Kali also echoed similar sentiments about the cleanliness drive, saying that mere launch of a campaign is not enough. "Without changing the mindset of people, the objective cannot be achieved," he said.